Jeremy Lin signs shoe deal with Adidas

Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin signed an endorsement contract with Adidas AG following the end of his agreement with Nike Inc.

Lin, the first Taiwanese- or Chinese-American to play in the NBA, joins teammate Dwight Howard and Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose as an Adidas pitchman. Other basketball endorsers of the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based company include Washington’s John Wall and Portland’s Damian Lillard.

Financial terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed by Adidas, which disclosed the addition of the 25-year-old Lin in a news release. Lin will be featured in Adidas marketing initiatives and will play a role in the development of basketball footwear and apparel, the statement said.

“They’ve changed the game with new technology and style, and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Lin said in the release.

Adidas as of July had 11 percent of China’s sportswear market, trailing Nike’s 12 percent, according to data from Euromonitor International.

Nike dominates the basketball shoe market globally with Adidas coming as a distant second. In the U.S., Nike possesses more than 90 percent of revenue between its namesake and Jordan brands while Adidas has 5 percent, according to researcher SportsOneSource.

Lin and retired former Rocket Yao Ming have bolstered basketball’s popularity in the world’s most populous nation, fueling viewership and apparel sales. The 7-foot-6 Yao played with the Rockets from 2002 to 2011. During that time Toyota Motor Corp. put its name on the team’s arena and other Asia-based companies sought affiliations with the Rockets.

Linsanity’s Birth

Lin skyrocketed to fame during the 2011-12 season, which he spent with the New York Knicks. His rise became known as Linsanity, the label attached to the worldwide hysteria that the player himself moved to trademark.

The Harvard University graduate joined the Rockets before the 2012-13 season after the Knicks declined to match Houston’s three-year, $25 million contract offer.

Lin is averaging 14.1 points and 4.2 assists this season for the Rockets, who have a 22-13 record, second to the San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest Division.

ssoshnick@bloomberg.net

Photo: Seth Wenig / Associated Press

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Jeremy Lin broke onto the national scene in February 2012 as he got his first start, played 35 mintues a game, averaging 21 points and 8 rebounds a game. See images of the highlights.

Jeremy Lin broke onto the national scene in February 2012 as he got his first start, played 35 mintues a game, averaging 21 points and 8 rebounds a game. See images of the highlights.